Appliance for lifting loads



June 28, 1960 A. BENZ APPLIANCE FOR LIFTING LOADS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 2, 1957 FIG. 5

FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

142/606"? Zen z June 28, 1960 A. BENZ 2,942,692

APPLIANCE FOR LIFTING LOADS Filed July 2, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2/ F E 24 FIGA IN V EN TOR. fldyawr BEA/2 United States Patent ire 2,942,692 APPLIANCE non LETTING LOADS August Benz, Urdorferstrasse 12, Schlieren, Zurich, Switzerland Filed July 2, 1957, Ser. No. 669,614 7 Claims priority, application Germany July 2, 1956 I 6 Claims. (Cl. 187-17) This invention relates to an appliance for lifting loads, especially sacks, having two liftable and lowerable platforms which are interconnected by a rope or chain tackle in such a way that the free platform in the high position will be lowered by the weight of a person such as a load-carrier or porter coming onto it, and simultaneously the otherplatform in the low position havingthe load thereon will be brought into a position which enables easy grasping or shouldering of the load.

The invention is an improvement over French Patent No. 1,034,244 and Swiss Patent No. 279,047, both of which are owned by the the applicant. The present invention is distinguished from the prior art in that the end of the rope tackle away from the platform for taking the load is entrained about a guide roller on the other platform intended for being weighted by the porter and is terminally secured to a holder which is vertically adjustably mounted on a stationary part of the appliance and fixable in various positions. Further there is provided a device adapted to lock the porter platform in its lowest position, together with a spring buffer for automatically releasing the same, the net weights of the two platforms being such that the load platform tends to descend into its low position and to bring the load-carrier platform into its raised position.

The design according to the invention has the advantage that, by vertically adjusting the holder, the lift of the platforms may be varied within certain limits and thus be suited each time to the height of the porter.

Another merit of the design according to the invention is seen in that, in the lowered position of the load-carrier platform, the porter can easily grasp or shoulder the load, free and without danger, even if the same should be somewhat heavier than double the weight of the porter. This is especially important in the case of bulky goods, when the load has to be temporarily released for changing the grip.

Of particular importance is the fact that the net weights of the two platforms are such that the load platform tends to go down by itself and to move the load-carrier platform to its high position so that they will automatically return to their initial positions as soon as the porter leaves his platform.

Further features of the invention will appear from the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which shows by way of example a preferred form of embodiment incorporating the invention.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the appliance;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line IIlI of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-HI of Fig. 2 in an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the parts in a difierent position,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken on the line V-V of Pig. -1, and

Fig. 6 is a partial elevational view looking in the direcy from the notches.

Patented June 28, 1960 tion of the arrows IVIV in Fig. 1 in an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the views, the ap pliance as illustrated includes a frame which is provided with two wheels 21 for locomation. The frame may be raised behind by two hingedly attached spar handles 9 to permit movement of the frame. The frame is built up of two vertical rear channel iron standards 22 and two inclined forward struts 23 which are interconnected in pairs at their upper ends. Substantially half way up and at bottom the standards 22 and struts 23 are inter-connected by horizontal longitudinal beams 7,7 and horizontal crossbeams 8,8 of channel iron, respectively. The beams 7,8,8 constitute the foot of the standard. The struts 23 also are formed of channel iron which, together with standards 22 have their flanges functioning as opposed guides 24, 25. A platform 14 for taking the loads to be handled is provided on both sides with supporting struts 27 having rollers 26, 28 thereon which engage the guides 25 of the struts 23 so as to guide the platform parallel in its path of movement to the inclined struts 23. Reference numeral 15 designates a second platform which in a similar way is provided on both sides with supporting struts 29 and rollers 26', 28 thereon which engage the guides 24 of the struts 22 so as to cause the platform 15 to move vertically. Located in the apices of the standards 22 are two hoist sheaves 35 over which the rope tackles 33, 34 are passed, each of these having one end anchored to the platform 14 and the other end to adjustment sleeves 6. The latter are vertically adjustable on struts 5 and lockable by a spring detent in the desired arrcstment holes 4' of the struts 5. One of the vertical struts 5 carries an auxiliary step plate 3 to facilitate stepping onto the platform 15. The platform 15 is suspended by the rope tackles 33, 34 and carries two rope pulleys 36 around which the rope tackles are entrained. At the lower ends of the vertical struts 22 a locking notch 1 for the platform 15 adjoins each of the guides. The notches 1 will be engaged by the rollers 28' in opposition to the action of a spring buffer 38 as soon as the platform 15 reaches its lowest position. A notch 2 prevents the rollers 28 becoming disengaged The rollers 28 will only be disengaged when the platform 15 is left by the porter, in that they will be forced out of the notches 1 by the action of the spring buffer 38 which engages the horizontal strut 29. Because a slight overweight of the empty platform 14 with respect to the empty piatform 15, upon disengagement of the rollers 28, the platform 14 will automatically return to its position ready for working.

After the load to be handled has been brought by the porter onto the platform 14, then in its lowest position, the porter steps onto the platform 15 by using the intermediate step 3. Because of the mans weight, the platform 15 will descend nearly to the ground while lifting the platform 14 with its load. Due to a special arr-angemen of the rope tackles, the path of movement of the platform 14 is double that of the platform 15, that is to say the platforms will be balanced if the man is twice as heavy as the load to be handled. Consequently, when a load of 50 kg. has to be handled, a man weighing about kg. may cause the platform carrying him to lower with but little extra help. The load lifted in this way may then be easily shouldered by the man, since, with the platform 15 reaching its lowest position, the rollers 28 will engage the notches 1 and effect arrestment of the platforms. After the man has taken the load upon his shoulders and left the platform 15, the platforms will automatically return to their initial positions.

Downward adjustment of the sleeve 6 results in a correspondmg lowering of the platform 15, and thus less lift of the platform 14.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious. changes and modifications be embraced by-the annexed claims. vHaving thus described my'invention, whatl Claimas new anddesire to secure by Let'tersr Patent is: .1 An appliance for lifting loads comprising a frame having two lifitable. and lowerable platforms on said frame, a tackle interconnecting 'said platforms so that one of said platforms in the raised position will be lowered by the weight of a porter coming onto it, and simultaneously the other of said platforms in the flow'posi- !tion with the load thereon will be brought into a position enabling easy grasping and s'houlderi-ng of the same, a guide roller mounted on said one platform and having said tackle entrained thereabout, a holder vertically, adjustably mounted ,on said frame, said tackle being terminally secured to said holder and said other platform, means for locking said one platform in its lowest position on said frame, and means including a spring buffer for automatically releasing said one platform; the net weights of the two platforms being such that said other platform normally tends to descend into its low position and to bring said other platform into a raised position.- 7

2. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein said holder includes an adjustment sleeve provided with a spring detent, said frame having arrestment -holes therein, said spring detent cooperating with said arrestment holes. 3. An appliance according to claim 1, wherein between V the highest and lowest position of said one platform spar handles are hingedly attached to said firame.

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STAT-ES PATENTS Je'fiers Aug. '1, 1950 2,694,467 Tupa NOV. .16, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,034,244

France Apr. 8, 1953 

